WILL THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE BE SNIFFING THE GREEN WITH THE SUCCESS OF “THE CHEECH”?

UPDATE: 03.27.2018: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL EYES BAN ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES: The City’s hypocrisy has no end. You bring in the Cheech Project idea with open arms and completely discount what and who the person is known for all at the same time. ‘Reefer’ side could be the center of the ‘pot’ revolution! First you have the Cheech Project, then all you need now is the ‘grass’ for the city coffers to be ‘loaded’ with ‘green.’ The ‘grass’ is really greener on the other side this time. Another missed opportunity or too big a bag of an opportunity? Interesting enough, the City of Riverside has enough money to launch a new Office of Homeless Solutions consisting of a team made up of Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen and 12 other people. Sorry guys when you come to ‘Reefer’ side you can only carry an ounce if the ordinance passes, not a bag you both can walk in.

Given the financial straits the City finds itself in these days, Riverside residents are appropriately beginning to ask, “How much is ‘the Cheech’ (short for Chicharrón) project going to cost us?” Back in February 2017, the Discovery Cube project was scrapped, leaving options open again for the aged downtown Library. Why did the Cube’s backers decide to leave? According to a later staff report, it was, “economically not feasible at this time,” …we’d add, “without further public subsidies.”

And while the public continued to openly state their displeasure with a $30, $40 $43 million new Jetsons library concept, as opposed to more cost-consciously renovating the old one, our Council continued to push forward to rid the Mission Inn of unsightly homeless people with the aid of City Manager John Russo. And the answer our resident rockstar came back with, after hashing through several other options supposedly, was the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry, which would serve as a home for Marin’s private pussycat Chicano art collection and provide space for temporary exhibitions, classes and lectures.

But will we be seeing blurred lines if the Riverside Art Museum, leading the fundraiser efforts for “the Cheech,” project, doesn’t hit their extended deadline to raise a total of $3 million by May 2018 – a condition set by our City Council needed to continue progress towards making the Cheech a stoned-cold reality? Problem is, even if they do, does the public really know what the final numbers are to rehabilitate the old library (a certifiable roach motel), or how much dough they’re committed to for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the joint? Will those costs and others continue to chronically rise like has been the pattern with the new library? Will the Cheech project eventually go ‘Up In Smoke’, and the idea of an avant-garde art center be just another one of Russo’s ‘Nice Dreams’ for the ole’ River City, made without any consideration that ‘Things Are Tough All Over’ for everyone who doesn’t have a government job?

But what’s the straight dope? We at TMC are committed to weeding through the real facts and figures for our readers. Let’s start with the makeup of that initial $3 million startup money. Well, $2 million will be raised by private pledges and contributions, while $1 million will come from the State in a form of a grant. As many have pointed out, that $1 million from the State is still public money, even if it’s not money from the City general fund. So yes, Riverside taxpayers are already on the hook alongside fellow Californians.

One thing Riverside taxpayers will be solely responsible for is the ongoing operations – cush jobs provided for Riverside Art Museum employees under contract from the City – and maintenance of the Cheech Project. The total costs are estimated to come in between between $750,000 and $925,000 annually, to be partially recovered by a $1-2 admission fee. Math never being our expertise we admit, we still figure “the Cheech” needs about 3,000 visitors daily to break even. To be blunt: ain’t gonna happen. Further, $100,000 was already approved out of our general fund last year by the Council for architectural services.

Back to those pesky start-up capital costs. A recent article in the Press Enterprise stated that the total cost of renovating and re-configuring the old library into the Cheech, which maxed out at $7 million a year ago, now could reach as high as $10 million…hmmm, where have we seen this pattern before? And it’s certainly evident that it’s been a long hard struggle to reach that $3 million mark to begin with. And if that bogey is hit, where will the additional $7 million come from? More I.O.U.’s? Yes, the plan is to continue to raise that money (private, public, whomever still has a pot to piss in) and create an endowment for ongoing expenses on top of that.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEW FISCAL HAWK, MAYOR WILLIAM “RUSTY” BAILEY

At City Council on February 23, 2018, Mayor Bailey grilled presenters of the Cheech regarding how much money they had in hand towards the $3 million goal. $80K was the answer, with the balance in pledges (I.O.U.’s), totaling $1.7 million plus the impending State grant of $1 million, most likely derived from Assemblyman Jose Medina’s support to pass Governor Jerry Brown’s new gas tax. We remind folks that when the library was being looked at for renovation, the cost was in the neighborhood of $20 million. Will Cheech, or any of his vast array of high-net-worth friends, consider investing in Riverside and his project? Or might the plug be pulled on the Cheech due to the chance that taxpayers may be asked to foot the bill on an unpaid ‘two finger bag’? And if that possibility remains, should we reconsider building a new library all-together? Or, will the Council simply start extending deadlines and take the money from its residents and businesses find financially more creative ways of accommodating the Cheech rather than admit they are on ‘doobie’ us grounds? It would seem that to continue on this road would only make the taxpayers see ‘acapulco red.’

Well according to Russo, even if the project does not transpire, the City of Riverside still has to spend the ganja to repair the 1960’s library’s roof, heating, air conditioning system and elevator, estimated at $1.5 million. His hope is that others will pay for that instead of local taxpayers (as long as we’re willing to fork over $40 million for a new library and subsidize the ongoing operations and maintenance at the Cheech.)

FILE UNDER “PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE”: One would think that it would be more appropriate to honor someone when a project has been completed, such as the ‘grand opening’ or ‘ribbon cutting,’ not while they haven’t even completed raising the first round of start-up funds! And yet Riverside City Manager John Russo has been named “Public Partner of the Year” by the Inland Empire Economic Partnership for his leadership on the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry in downtown Riverside. Is the ‘Mutual Admiration Society of Riverside,’ (MASOR) in ‘high’ gear, or what? Good job John Russo City of Riverside Minister of Propaganda Spokehole Phil Pitchford!

AT THE MARCH 13, 2018 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING: COUNCILMAN MIKE SOUBIROUS REFERENCED THE OLD DOWNTOWN LIBRARY AND IT’S REPAIR ISSUES, BUT HE ALSO STATES THAT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY IS A DANGER ZONE FOR CHILDREN AND EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE OF A PEDOPHILE PROBLEM. Now that a serious public safety statement has been made, what will this retired Commander for the Highway Patrol request our local police department to do in order to combat this problem?

RIVERSIDE TOURISM BUREAU’S NEXT CREATIVE ADVERTISEMENT

IT SEEMS CHEECH ALSO HAS A FINE COLLECTION OF PUSSYCATS RIVERSIDERS MAY WANT TO INSPECT! MAYBE WE CAN CONVERT THE OLD FIRESTATION FOR THIS NEW CHEECH VENUE!

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

At the tail end of the March 7, 2018, Riverside City Council meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Andy Melendrez requested an investigation into Mayor Bailey’s Office to determine if confidential materials related to the Mayor’s right to veto a contract of a City officer (i.e. the City Manager) were released to the public without Council authorization.

QUIET, UNASSUMING, NICE GUY ANDY ABOUT TO SINK THE KNIFE INTO MAYOR BAILEY?

Skip forward to this week and we learn that item has been mysteriously removed from the upcoming City Council agenda. Was it delayed because of the conflict-of-interest with Riverside City Attorney Gary Geuss, as identified in fine detail as part of Mayor Bailey’s writ of mandate filed just over a week ago? Was there a scheduling conflict on behalf of one of the key parties? Or, like the free-riding Press Enterprise as of late, is the City of Riverside simply waiting for TMC to publish the results of its investigation saving taxpayers gobs of money (if you believe the latter, we have a library to sell you)? Well, we won’t disappoint then (i.e. keep reading)!

And why might Mr. Colantuono’s judgment regarding this particular issue be perceived as just a tad bit biased? Well, maybe it’s the fact that he serves as a contracted City Attorney himself up in the Bay Area!

CLICK TO ENLARGE: THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY’S CLUB

In the alternative, Geuss could’ve just provided the City Council with a list of attorneys capable of handling this work and said, “I’m out. Have at it boys.” But, stealing a line from Jason Hunter, “the unofficial slogan of the City of Riverside is that there’s no conflict-of-interest that’s too big that we can’t ignore,” instead he inserted himself right into the middle of controversial decision in which he has a financial interest…and that we predict ladies and gentlemen is going to lead to trouble down the line…right here in the ole’ River City.

Once again, TMC will save the day (and $10-$25K of the taxpayers’ moola) on this one: THE MAYOR DID IT…in the new Library…by throwing a Wrench into Team Russo’s plans. And below, we provide for everyone to see: the Mayor leaked the Attorney/Client-protected outside legal opinion of Michael Colantuono to anyone he thought could lend a revolver, lead pipe, rope, knife, candlestick, hand.

The statement also rejects the idea that anyone but the city attorney “be permitted to obtain counsel at taxpayers’ expense.”

Before announcing his veto of Russo’s contract, Bailey received a letter from attorney Philip Kohn of Rutan & Tucker to back his opinion that — despite City Attorney Gary Geuss’ position — the charter allows the mayor to veto a contract with the city manager.

Kohn wrote to Bailey on Feb. 9 that he had been told the city charter doesn’t allow the mayor to hire legal counsel without the City Council’s consent. To avoid any conflict, Kohn wrote, he would not charge the city for any of the services he provided or provide any further legal advice on the matter.

UPDATE 3/26/18: RUTAN & TUCKER USED AS A SUCKER? BELOW IS THE LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 9, 2018, SENT TO MAYOR BAILEY AFTER REALIZING THEIR FIRM WAS PUT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION POSITION BY THE MAYOR. LawyerPhilip Kohn states that his firm will not be providing any further legal opinions or assistance on the veto matter since the Riverside City Charter does not authorize the Mayor to hire outside legal counsel without approval or consent from City Council. After realizing that their firm had a conflict-of-interest with the City itself, for whom they provide lucrative outside counsel work, they indicate the Mayor’s legal advice was at ‘no charge’…so as to not muddle up their taxpayer gravy train.

Did Mayor Bailey consider allowing a proxy to file a lawsuit on his behalf while he sat in closed session, and based upon his record, leaked out more confidential information in order to benefit himself politically? You betcha. Just look in the “Rusty Files.”

And you know what, Andy Melendrez? Nobody cares. Nobody cares because – intentionally or not, William “Beetle Bailey,” through his entirely selfish (John Russo is a meanie…wahhh!!!), unethical actions is going to end up cleaning the Riverside Swamp of profiteer-bureaucrats/wannabe-politicians, and we’re just fine with that. We’ll deal with Beetle later.

NOTHING BUT CLEAR SKIES FOR MAYOR “BEETLE BAILEY” AHEAD

And in an ironic twist not lost on Riverside corruption historians, a central figure in the Soubirous-Davis witchhunt of just 3-1/2 years ago accused of leaking information to the Press Enterprise at the time, will be outed soon as the, “man behind the scenes,” organizing his own kangaroo court on our dime…but that story about that Councilman (codenamed: M.S.) is for another day. In the meantime, enjoy the Peoples’ Councilman, good guy-turned bad guy-turned good guy again, Ward 4 Councilman Chuck Conder…and the circle of life continues.

Councilman Chuck Conder says it stinks at City Hall! Outlandish city contracts and ridiculous utility rate hikes are ripping off the citizenry!! It’s time for people to “let their voice be heard,” he says in a passionate speech last Monday.The city manager lavish new contract comes on the heels of a proposed average 3% hike in electricity and 4.5% hike in water that will begin July 1, 2018, and continue for 5 years, with 1/5 of the hike consisting of new taxes, to cover budget shortfalls for infrastructure projects we are sold told. Add to that the city’s $600 million pension liability debt, and ever-increasing taxes to pay for it, and it begs the question: should the city manager be paid 25% more from the public purse and businesses and residents feel the pinch of a higher-cost-of-living and less government services? These financial decisions have one councilman, Chuck Conder, concerned.

When Moreno Valley activist and local radio host Roy Bleckert asked Conder what can be done, Conder delivered a passionate speech stating, “You need to take back your government…They’re laughing at us… They’re saying ‘got away with this one…with that one.’ We as a people have got to get our voice back! If you can give up three minutes in front of the city council, great. If you can’t, send an e-comment, write. Let your voice be heard.”

BLAST FROM THE PAST: 02.23.2016: Local community activist Kevin Dawson skewers City Council regarding the failure to address outside legal counsel without contracts and the budget deficit! Ignored by Council, ignored by the City Attorney Greg Priamos and ignored by head of the Finance Committee Councilwoman and current Budget Engagement Commissioner (sigh) Nancy Hart…. Dawson was right all along!

DEDICATED TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE PARTNERSHIP COMPENSATION MODEL

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

Love my enemies, bless those who curse me, pray for their salvation. – Book of Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey, circa at exactly February 12, 2018, 8:27am

THE RUSTY FILES: [queue eerie music] We present a few of the personal notes reflecting on a cornucopia of thoughts the Mayor wrote to himself for future reference as he brooded over the Russo/Geuss/Soubirous/Melendrez/MacArthur-led coup just days before. In others words, “Did anyone get the license plate of that truck?”

A VIEW INTO THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE IF MEASURE A, THE RIVERSIDE CITY PROSECUTOR MEASURES WOULD’VE PASSED

Well according to the Rusty Files, Russo manipulated Geuss to test the waters against D.A. Mike Hestrin and whatever other power structures there were in Riverside County at the time, including seventy-billion-time re-elected former D.A. Grover Trask. He is a troublemaker.

Moreover, the Rusty Files reveal Russo loves to create controversy, then come in and save the day. And he loves to get credit for easy wins…such as Measure-Z, the Library, Museum and the Budget. Rusty asks the question, “Is there a pattern here?” He is a front-runner.

He refers to other city’s where Russo was in the middle of conflict, then left when the going got tough. He goes on to say that John loves to fight, argue and purposely create opposition just for the sport of toying with them. He is a manipulator.

Does Russo do what he says he will do? It appears according to the Mayor, that Russo cannot be counted on. He says one thing, and does another. He cannot be trusted.

Then our sweet, beloved, squeaky clean homegrown Mayor drops the bombshell, “How many wives?” Is it a metaphor for how Russo treats the cities and the public who have paid for his ever-expanding waistline, or should we take this at its literal meaning and infer more? Does City Manager John Russo have commitment problems? He is disloyal.

What else lurks in the depths of the Rusty Files? As a teaser for future TMC posts we’ll leave this at the door: it turns out Cindy Roth, the Chamber Queen and long-time ally of Mayor Rusty Bailey is not a bit amused by being cut from the General Fund gravy train by City Manager John Russo. Her husband, Senator Roth, who profited as well from the legal gravy train provided by our fair city for many a year, is rumored to have helped the Mayor with his veto defense arguments. A real State Senator vs. a wannabe State Assemblyman: it’s on like Donkey Kong!

CLICK ABOVE TO ENLARGE PIC

MIKE FINE’S MESSAGE:

Rusty refers to Mike Fine’s message, and to print it out so that the Council will read it. Mike Fine, former deputy superintendent for RUSD and member of the Riverside Budget Engagement Commission (quickly becoming our favorite citizen-led commission of all-time), apparently had a bit to say about Measure Z monies being spent to fill the pockets of Mr. Russo. And we have those Facebook messages for your viewing pleasure, including a little tiff with Councilman Andy Melendrez, where Fine takes the Ward 2 Councilman to school. Some excerpts:

I volunteered to sit on the city’s budget commission as a way to give back to my hometown. I recently spent eight hours over two nights listening to the departments express their plans and needs. There was no mention of a hefty raise and home loan for the city manager. It wasn’t listed as a need. How do I do the job the city has asked me to do as a volunteer who has expertise in governmental budgeting when not all the information was shared? While I can still make a recommendation to the council regarding budget matters, what’s the point when the council acts recklessly in the midst of the budget process?

My point is simple. The city has many needs -many more than resources will cover. At a time when you will have to consider cuts in services and programs you sent the wrong message to the residents, employees and partners of the city. City vendors are being asked to reduce their prices by 10% at the same time the council is awarding senior management raises and an unwarranted home loan.

You will recall that the city sold voters on a sales tax increase to support police and fire. But now, under the city manager’s direction, they are proposing cuts – to budgets, not taxes!

This is an issue of leadership – more precisely, a lack of leadership.

According to Fine the City is full of contradictions and flouts the perception of transparency but in reality has none. Sounds to us like Mr. Fine has been listening to longtime city critic advocate Jason Hunter, who coincidentally tells us something B-I-G is coming (we can’t wait).

We believe there has been malfeasance playing out within the confines of City Hall by the fact that current contracts for both Geuss and Russo accompanied no such ‘resolution.’ For years dear readers, every new contract that included new & improved terms for fatcat bureaucrats included a resolution which authorized the spending on behalf of the City; then all of a sudden, poof, it disappeared.

Why? Well, our lying eyes have seen the in-fighting that has recently taken place between the Mayor’s Office and the City Manager’s Office, with Council taking sides, and believe this to be the cause. We therefore presuppose that this omittance was done to strategically counter Bailey’s impeding veto. See folks, according to City Charter, Rusty can legally veto a ‘resolution.’ Without the ‘resolution’ in the contract, technically, Rusty’s veto might not be valid. This was orchestrated by design. But it appears our Mayor is not in the mood to take any prisoners this time.

The Ides of February 2018 came and went. The day of the veto, Rusty Bailey probably felt a bit like Caesar did when his Council Buddies were waiting for him at the Council Forum on that cold Tuesday afternoon…

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

Local resident Jason Hunter exposes the truth about the newly-signed gold-plated contracts of both City Manager John Russo and City Attorney Gary Geuss. Turns out the current contracts were not accompanied by an amendment to a resolution called the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan, signed by the Mayor as required by City’s Municipal Code (local law). That particular resolution grants authority to the Council to pay certain salaries and benefits to certain positions. And the jury at TMC believes the omittance of this document to be intentional given other recent employee deals. But what the heck do we know!?

When both Russo and Geuss were initially employed, this particular resolution was included within the agenda packet that contained their contracts. Three years later it magically disappears. Hunter states the two ramifications of what’s been perpetrated: 1) the contracts terms negotiated outside the authority of the resolution are invalid (and the monies need to be returned immediately to the City’s treasury) and 2) upon re-introduction of the resolution, the Mayor has the right to veto the terms, as he does all resolutions under Section 413 of the City Charter.

Who would have known? We could extrapolate that City Attorney Gary Geuss, City Manager John Russo and even Human Resources Director Stephanie Holloman would have known. Incidentally, Holloman and Geuss we hear know each other from their employment with the City/Port of Los Angeles. Perhaps even Councilman Chris MacArthur could have known given how he eagerly tried to override Mayor Bailey’s veto by signing Russo’s contract as Mayor Pro-Tem. Maybe even Councilman Jim Perry, who signed Geuss’ deal, was in on the scheme.

Who also should have 100% with-out-doubt-known is City Clerk Colleen J. Nicol. Her 30% raise over the past 2-1/2 years must have affected her emotional decision-making not to alert Mayor Bailey. She is either afraid of Russo and Geuss, or she’s simply a master at playing the game (and consequently cruising into retirement at your expense). In our experience, Colleen doesn’t miss a piece of paper at City Hall…what we’d call a pro’s pro…so what’s up? Whatever the reason, you can be sure TMC will find out!

Let’s not forget this quote from City Manager John Russo, “…as a child of immigrants with a scholarship Yale degree, and a top ten law school that I have to beg you to do and preserve what we all busted our tails to do to make this city move.” “But I assure you, I might be here in two years, and whether you extend my contract or not I’m not going to have any trouble getting a job. But if we vote no tonight, I cannot make any assurances to you about keeping this team together, that’s the reality that’s your choice!” More famous words for us Riverside Hillbilly’s is, “You can’t afford to have this team break up!” So what did Russo really mean? “I’m am so brilliant I’m going to screw Mayor Bailey and the taxpayer out of millions of dollars and they are so stupid they won’t even notice, and my cronies and I can live our much-deserved lavish lifestyles free of interference from the unwashed masses. Let them eat cake!” Our bet is the only cake we’ll be eating, John, will be at your going away party.

RIVERSIDE’S CONTRACT-GATE: ONE QUESTION REMAINS

UPDATE: REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO MAYOR BAILEY’S OFFICE: At the March 7, 2018, Riverside City Council meeting, Councilman Andy Melendrez requests an investigation into Mayor Bailey’s Office to determine if confidential materials related to the Mayor’s right to veto a contract of a City officer were released without Council authorization to the public. Rumor has it this request involves the Mayor’s Office releasing the Colantuono Legal Opinion (and hence violating the City’s Attorney/Client privilege) prior to it becoming a public document a few weeks ago. What? He’s requesting the formation of Special Counsel for this inquiry? Does he think the City of Riverside river water is full of the same rats found in the swamps of Washington D.C.? Shouldn’t have Andy requested Special Counsel to investigate the contract fraud Mr. Hunter speaks of instead?

As an aside we love how Andy is so nice and polite in this video right before he inserts the dagger of righteousness into the Mayor’s Office. All of sudden, after all these years, Andy wants “transparency,” into the dirty deeds done dirt cheap within the confines of City Hall. How marvelous! Andy should have just called TMC: we’ve already done the investigation for free! But alas, that’s for another day dear readers…

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

The pension problem in the City of Riverside was brought to the attention of the City Council and the Executive Management as early as 2014 by the very active public and TMC. We want to make this very clear to our readers: all the political rhetoric that is currently being spun is bullshit. Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva tries to spin the fact that her brilliant team has just discovered our current dire pension problem. No Marianna, we found it, years before your arrival on the scene from Oakland Maywood Lynwood Mammoth Lakes…wherever (damn girl, you’ve been around!). If you are claiming you just found it, we are going to claim you are a waste of money.

Not only did we find and report the break down in this system, we were ignored. Now, no one will be held accountable for their lack of professionalism and enormous cost to the taxpayer. So what do these ever-increasing pensions costs mean to the public? You will no longer get your trees trimmed, potholes filled, parks maintained. So, what does this mean to City Hall? You will have your $200,000 salary for the rest of your life! Make no mistake about it, we are going to get nothing, and they – the public employees – are going take everything. These brilliant professional minds at City Hall are going to ask for more money, and you the stupid taxpayer are going to continue to pay it. At least that’s the plan…

The pension problem was created in the 1990’s by Governor Davis when he increased the formula for payouts for State employees based upon his thoughts that the tech bubble would never pop. Every municipal agency soon followed. Because our government is stacked with pro-labor sycophant’s who apparently don’t care about the future nor understand math, instead of adjusting these formulas back downwards, it became clear post-housing bubble we couldn’t afford them. Hence, CalPERS began forcing larger and larger contributions from both municipalities and employees, while not addressing some of the outrageous pension-spiking abuses in a timely fashion. And while the issue is now finally getting the attention it deserved 10 years ago, we at TMC believe the problems are now so large they are virtually unsolvable absent drastic measures or miracles, as baby boomers are retiring in droves.

Riverside CFO Adam Raymond at the last Budget Engagement Commission meeting on Thursday February 22, 2018 stated that shortfalls in the General Fund are simply due to CalPER’s increases in contributions. City records indicate that forecasted City revenues will be inadequate to cover these expenses for the next decade! As operational costs increase in the next five years in fact City reserves will disintegrate, if of course, we don’t do anything. And what does that mean? Will they come back to the taxpayers again, and again for their shortfalls? But this hasn’t been a secret: unsustainable pension costs have been a popular topic for several years now. But you know what is a secret until now? Riverside has no plan to deal with the impending crunch…unless you count sticking it to the constituents as a plan.

As a consequence to escalating pension obligations, our reserves will continue to decrease, and therefore Mr. Raymond suggests to the commission the possibility of investing with slightly higher risk as a possibility (of course with an unpredictable economy, this investment platform may not be the most desirable option). Measure Z revenues will not be enough. Mr. Raymond suggests more cuts, after the City had promised that the passing of Measure Z would take care of everything. Just like the water transfer tax, the hotel tax, etc., etc., before it…wash, rinse, repeat.

Later Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva attempts to mitigate the perplexing faces of the Commission about the use of Measure Z monies for pension obligations, by using her well-known by now, “Ice Queen Spin,” which includes a variation of monotone nothing-speak, impossible-to-understand powerpoint slides, along with empty promises. She tried to show the commission that the shortfall was revealed only after review of the numbers by her crack team, and ‘we are on it’, and ‘that is why we do these five year plans’. But perception is reality, and the Commission knows it and the Council knows it: the budget crunches will continue ad infinitum due to increasing unsustainable pension obligations. And we for two wouldn’t be surprises if the City, with the financial help of the unions (our heroes, right?), rams through another tax measure.

Advice for Ms. Marysheva: stop the drama – we know it’s an act, and a bad one at that. Your boss John Russo is the ‘ultimate drama queen,’ and don’t even try to take that away from him. There is only one diva allowed at a time.

The Ice Queen brings up her meeting with a bond rating agency. So why is this important? On one hand she says in three years we are going to have challenging financial problems, while on the other hand she is setting us up for borrowing more money. You see folks its never enough. She also mentions that the bond rating agency is impressed with the TEAM…. So who’s the TEAM? The Mayor, City Council, executive staff, and Budget Engagement Commission. You mean batting leadoff and on deck are the two principal players in getting us in this fiscal hellhole? We have to laugh that, little does the bond rating agency know, the MAYOR is no longer part of the TEAM!

Public employee unions exist to advocate for their members, often campaigning for policies at odds with the best interests of the general public.

The so-called public safety unions are in a unique position. Representing some of the most esteemed and highest paid of government employees, they have lots of money to dole out and are more than comfortable exaggerating threats to public safety if it helps their cause.

Cases in point: ballot initiatives in Hemet, Riverside and San Bernardino tainted by undue influence from public safety unions.

Hemet has been plagued by polarizing debates over public safety and taxes for the past several years. In 2014, soon before the November elections, the City Council voted to contract for fire services, deeming it the best available option.

This prompted a flood of money from firefighters unions across Riverside County to help elect candidates favorable to the city’s firefighters union, which opposed contracting.

It worked, and the newly elected council quickly reversed the decision to contract, and has focused on tax hikes ever since.

In June, voters rejected the union-backed Measure E sales tax increase. Rather than reconsider the decision to capitulate to union demands, the council instead decided to put another tax on the November ballot.

In Riverside, the city, which last year was boasting about a $1 million surplus and felt so good it decided to give police officers a $4 million raise the city hadn’t actually budgeted for, has put on the November ballot a one-percent sales tax.

Expected to raise about $50 million a year, Measure Z is touted as necessary for the future of Riverside.

With a name like “City of Riverside Public Safety and Vital City Services Measure,” it certainly sounds important. Of course, if passed Measure Z revenues can be spent however the council likes and there are no guarantees about how the money will be spent, with one notable exception.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved a contract with the city’s police union which, among other things, will give police officers a bigger raise if voters approve a tax increase. It’s quite the incentive.

According to recent filings, the police union has already contributed $12,500 to the Measure Z campaign. Firefighters union president Tim Strack told The Press-Enterprise that he already had $100,000 in commitments for the campaign.

Behind any talk of the need for more money for “public safety,” is really just a desire for bigger raises and budgets.

Note the blatant conflict of interest by our public safety unions. They give big money to support a sales tax like Measure Z and they give big money to the campaigns of the individual Council members. These Council members, hence, are responsible for ratifying their contracts. Shouldn’t this be considered criminal behavior? They pay to play, and they see us as nothing but feeble-minded simpletons, who will vote based on ’emotion rather than logic.’ They will mobilize and encourage their union members to vote for an initiative because it is good for them financially, even if the action is unsustainable and destabilizing socially in the long term. They will then cry foul when we as a City cannot deliver.

Make no bones about it, if the public doesn’t take the business of the people seriously, neither will those who represent you. We think the City should be run as a efficiently as a business, while understanding it is not trying to maximize profits at our expense, and we public salaries should be tied to the outcome of organic tax revenues, not new revenue schemes. And what will they do next? Sell our Public Utilities? But what do we know, as Councilman Soubirous says, we’re just a bunch of hillbillies. Well that’s what he says people in Los Angeles think of us anyway.

Above you’ll find a list of City of Riverside accomplishments that was recently presented to the Budget Engagement Commission. In the Finance section of the citywide highlights it states, “For the 14th straight year, the City’s annual budget received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers’s Association.” How inane, and insane, given how existing City management threw old city management under the bus just 2 years ago for cooking the books. And it highlights how stupid all these trophies the City seems to lust for continually really are in reality.

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US:

Here is the home that you loaned $675,000 to City Manager John Russo at the exclusive, City-only rate of 1.35% (or lower?) to keep him happy in Riverside. We’re definitely going to be lining up for this rate at the Bank of Riverside, located at 3600 Main Street, and we suggest you do too. But if you need check how your investment is maintaining itself, since you the taxpayers hold the property title, you can visit your asset at 7898 Whitegate Avenue, Riverside, California 92506.

But some sources are telling TMC also serves as a super secret City Hall II, since they see the vehicles of Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva and Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen many mornings at the residence. Coffee must be better than the new vendor at City Hall we figure. Are they having meetings as some have said, possibly scheming for the next agenda move or simply enjoying Russo’s pool? Here are some of the home features you the taxpayers hold title to.

“I’LL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE!” (SUBSIDIZED BY THOSE INLAND EMPIRE HICKS)

CITY OF RIVERSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT REWARDED WITH DONATED DISNEY PASSES FROM THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH..DISNEYLAND? Disneyland Resorts has donated 470 entrance passes to the Riverside Fire Department valued at $78,490.00, which of course, still needs Council approval before they can be accepted. But residents are asking, “shouldn’t it go right back to the taxpayers?” After all, we pay for the services of the Fire and the equipment used for their service. While the City of Riverside is in a $603 Million pension deficit, shouldn’t they do their part in reimbursing the taxpayers. Others, see the 470 passes in City hands open to abuse. But others are asking if the City of Riverside helped the City of Anaheim on a ‘mutual aid agreement?’ If the City of Anaheim didn’t pay for the cost, how much did it actually cost the taxpayer in regular time, over time and equipment cost? About a year ago the City of Riverside Council approved a ‘cost recovery’ program. For now, for example, in the Wood Streets Ward 1, if need a new parking permit because your curb outside your home is a zoned parking area, you must have a permit. The permit use to be free to homeowners, now it cost them $30.00!

According to the City of Riverside Administrative Rule, “Employees shall not accept any gift, favor or other consideration, which might reasonably be construed as a conflict of interest and/or an attempt to influence their actions in their performance of their official duties.” In the City of Los Angeles, City Officials are required to report any gift valued more than $50 on their Statement of Economic Interest. I would imagine the same goes for City Officials in Riverside.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

FROM THE DESK OF KEVIN DAWSON:I just found this agenda item on the City of Riverside council agenda for next week. At first this sounds like a “isn’t that nice” story, but the more I’ve been thinking about it, the more I find it upsetting. The city has a rule that any gifts over $25,000, must be accepted by the council. OK, but that threshold is too low and vague ( we’ve herd stories over the years of city managers getting Christmas gifts of expensive liquor and such). But this agenda item is Disneyland giving 470 passes worth $78,000, so that each employee in the city fire department can receive two passes each. That’s a $340 gift to each employee. Why? It’s in appreciation for our city sending mutual aid to the City of Anaheim during the recent fires. The cost of that mutual aid, I think, is shouldered by the people of Riverside. We pay for those employees, their training and equipment. In fact we are taxing ourselves an extra 1% sales tax to purchase 14 new fire trucks. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for Disney to have made a donation toward the replacement cost of equipment used to fight the Anaheim fires? The city reports we have a staff of 211 full times firefighters. I don’t think we dispatched the entire department to Anaheim, so why is the whole department being gifted? I think firefighters are great, but they are well paid. They were well paid to go to Anaheim, and they used the resources of our city to do it, so just why should they be rewarded? Should Fire department management, who make exceptional income, be gifted? The optics of this looks really bad. If Disney is going to gift $340 to RFD non-responder’s, why not extend the gift to all city employees? For that matter, why not extend to all the tax payers who fund RFD?

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

UPDATE: 02.22.2018: At last night’s City Council meeting, a statement was read regarding Council support of City Attorney Gary Geuss’s legal opinion against the Mayor’s veto power of executive staff contracts, supported by Attorney Michael Colantuono’s original legal opinion. Colantuono will prepare an additional written statement for the unwashed masses (us) stating something to that effect within 7 days.

STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL:

“By Majority vote, The Council supports the City Attorney as the sole legal authority under the Charter and we reject any suggestion that any other charter officer or elected official be permitted to obtain counsel at taxpayer’s expense. The majority of the City Council, excluding Councilmember Conder and Councilmember Perry, (Councilmember Adams was absent) reaffirms the statements of the City Attorney, during the February 6, 2018 Council Meeting, that the sole remedy for the Mayor, is to file a writ with the Superior Court. The Charter is plain, that the three Charter Officers report to, work for and take direction from The Council, not the Mayor. No one can have two bosses and work efficiently. We have asked outside Counsel to prepare a written version of his advice, suitable to be shared with the public within 7 days.”

Yep, I gave him a couple of bucks and some time, so what’s the big deal? You have a problem with that?

What was that ‘non-monetary’ contribution of $1,374.38 to Russo’s Campaign? Sandwiches? Legal Advice? WE ALSO HAVE RIVERSIDE’S LAW FIRM BEST, BEST & KRIEGER WHO APPARENTLY WERE CONTRIBUTORS OF $2,000.00 TO JOHN RUSSO’S 2006 ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN! MORE TO COME…

Is TMC becoming relevant when it comes to sources for Press Enterprise articles? That’s okay.. will you at least pay us the freelance rate? Oop’s here it is in all it’s glory.. the Colantuono legal opinion on Mayor Bailey’s veto power. Colantuono cites City Charter Section 600 and Section 700. His legal interpretation is that the Mayor cannot veto a Council decision on the employment of a charter officer.

Councilman Mike Gardner, Ward 1, said during the meeting that the veto issue was distracting the city from important business. Love when I hear this..it couldn’t be the important business of the taxpaying residents having to deal with pot holes, uncut trees, drug houses, prostitution, shoot outs, burglaries, threats to neighbors, mail theft, theft in general, car break in’s, home break in’s, inundation of homeless into our neighborhoods, etc. etc..

Will Mike Gardner’s unpopular votes in favor of Russo’s contract and against the Mayor’s power to veto sink his chances at County Board of Supervisors? Magic 8-ball says…definitely maybe.

The question remains, what happens if the courts uphold Mayor Bailey’s Veto? Will the Russo’s contract be rescinded? If it is, how those who pushed against Bailey fare in the future? Those such as the City Council, City Attorney Gary Geuss and those that are subcontracted with the taxpayer’s monies to support a ‘legal opinion,’ such as the ‘high priced’ lawyer Michael Colantuono…. which incidentally, an attorney the Moreno’s went against in care of the taxpayers and won. Let’s give credit where credit’s due…

According to the Press Enterprise, When Council members responded with their thoughts and some additional questions at Tuesday’s City Council, Geuss said city officials should not reply because neither Russo’s contract nor the veto was on the agenda. The state’s public meeting law, the Brown Act, limits what topics the council may discuss without putting it on the agenda in advance. Because the Council neeeeeeeeever violates the Brown Act….laughing out loud. Really Geuss?

Our Mayor, the proverbial hero, fighting for truth, justice and Riversidian way, preparing to dive from the seventh floor of City Hall to fight evil and protect the wallets and pocketbooks his people.

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

The following has yet to be thoroughly studied by TMC, but we present it here for your viewing pleasure: the full legal opinion giving Mayor William Rusty Bailey the authority to veto an executive employment contract extension, such as the one passed by our City Council on Feb. 6, 2018, involving current City Manager John Russo. The opinion is from Rutan & Tucker, L.L.C., who incidentally is also retained as the City’s law firm in other matters. Exhibits to this legal opinion are as follows:

CLICK ABOVE DOCUMENT IMAGES TO VIEW EXHIBITS

As of today, TMC is the only media source offering this full opinion to the public: we’ll let you decide its merits.

And that is why Mayor’s Chief of Staff Cheryl-Marie Hansberger was at a recent Budget Engagement Commission Meeting a couple of weeks ago complaining about a lack of resources, and just-so-happened (wink) to also mention Russo’s contract extension and request more funding for the Mayor’s office. At which point Rusty’s former Riverside Unified School District buddy colleague and deputy Superintendent Mike Fine picked up the ball and ran with it, mentioning how he knew the Mayor would never cause dissention in the ranks – it just wasn’t his style. Team Russo, led by Assistant City Manager Natasha Fatale Marianna Marysheva, countered with, “I haven’t seen it!” referring to a divide between the Mayor’s office and the City Manager’s office. But the rift between Mayor Bailey and City Manager Russo is evident, and IS personal, and that is the real story despite all the public statements to the contrary.

But that is not the story for today. For we at TMC do not much care if Bailey rumbled, bumbled, or stumbled into the cockfight, as long as he’s on the right side. After the Mayor’s veto the power struggle for control of City Hall really began in earnest, with both sides firing off volleys in what will surely be a donnybrook with only one side standing at the end. City Attorney Gary Guess offers a summary of his legal opinion in the video above and now we give you the Mayor’s full legal opinion. Only one can be right. The Press Enterprise has had both legal opinions for weeks and as yet, has not published them…we at TMC can only imagine why!

So let’s talk about the City’s case for a second. In December, after Bailey checked with Geuss to “confirm” that he had the power to veto Russo’s contract, Geuss asked attorney Michael Colantuono of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley to weigh in with an “independent” opinion. Colantuono offered that the mayor does not have that power. “If the mayor could veto a contract for a charter officer, that officer would have an obvious incentive to take direction from the mayor and to seek his approval,” Colantuono wrote in a four-page analysis. “That incentive is in tension with, if not fully inconsistent with, the Charter’s statement that charter officers ‘serve at the pleasure of the City Council.’”

Michael Colantuono, Esq.

Riverside City Attorney Gary Geuss still has yet to release Attorney Michael Colantuono’s opinion publicly that the Mayor cannot veto a executive staff member contract. Geuss claims a conflict with Bailey’s use of the firm Rutan & Tucker on retainer with the City of Riverside, for using them for his legal opinion. But is there another, perhaps larger conflict? TMC has learned that back in 2006 Michael Colantuono contributed to John Russo’s State Assembly campaign in Northern California in an amount of $1,500? Reminds us of the old adage: what a twisted tale we weave, when at first we try to deceive. Yep, we may have trouble in River City!

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “NEGATIVE,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

DO WE HAVE TROUBLE, RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY? WELL TROUBLE CAME AND LEFT IN THE FORM OF VIVIAN MORENO AT LAST NIGHT’S (2/13/18) CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

Incredible footage below of a real life con-man explaining the art of the con! AT THE FEBRUARY 6, 2018 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCILMAN CHRIS MACARTHUR LECTURES COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS ON MAKING AN EMOTIONAL DECISION AS OPPOSED TO A LOGICAL ONE! The decision of course in question was in reference to City Manager John Russo’s contract extension of 7 years, 2-1/2 years prior to his existing contract ending. Has MacArthur made City Council decisions based on emotion over the past 12 years that he’s been on Council? That would sure explain a lot. Councilman Chris MacArthur is the Regional Vice-President of Primerica. Is this how Chris does business? As an investment adviser does Chris tell his clients that they should make emotional decisions with their money as oppose to a sound logical one? Does he tell elderly widows to time the market in pork belly futures with their savings? Is this how he invests other peoples’ money?

BANK OF RIVERSIDE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS. WOULD YOU THE TAXPAYER LIKE A CRACK AT THE LOW, LOW, LOW RATE OF 1.35% TO BORROW MONEY ON YOUR HOME? If they are doing this for executive staff, such as City Manager John Russo, and offering it to other public employees, shouldn’t the Bank of Riverside be open to the rest of the public? Call your local Councilman for an appointment! Remember, the taxpayers are taking the risk, not the City Manager with this home loan. He gets the mortgage money from us, and we hold the title to his home until we are paid back in full…or not. Who knows, the next thing you know the City of Riverside may also be selling gas too…(at least to their employees)

LATE UPDATE: AS OF 02.13.2018: RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL CLARIFIES DETAILS OF CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT EXTENSION: AS RELEASED BY SPOKES HOLE PHIL PITCHFORD (FORMER PRESS ENTERPRISE REPORTER). You know the City must be hearing it from outraged constituents as word of the new contract for our City Manager has gotten out. This press release was issued to clarify the details of his contract, aka attempt to calm the savage Riverside taxpayer beast. What our Council doesn’t get, is that this city manager’s salary, and other high roller salaries such as in police, fire and utilities…are just plain excessive! Many of these coddled employees don’t pay but a portion of their pension, medical, life insurance (if they pay at all). With car allowances and free public transportation, free Wifi and cell service, expense accounts for lunch and dinner, etc., they have fewer and subsidized expenses relative to the private sector and more free income to use their months of vacation, sick time, and administrative leave. They are the new California Politburo.

Their claim is that the new City Manager’s contract is not much of an increase, but they conveniently miss the point. Those salaries do not reflect the real world taxpayers have to live in and Riversiders are just not seeing the benefits of paying a such a compensation package to the City Manager. Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva talks about the value that their team brings to River City, but what value really is that beyond words? Her team has increased the cost-of living here dramatically – higher fees, taxes, and utility rates. Are we instead paying the City Manager excessively because he’s figured out a way of soaking us, without the torches and pitchforks coming out (yet), in order to cover up the past ‘screw ups’ by our City? We at TMC believe these guys just don’t know how to negotiate a deal, and have no concept of when to just walk away. We know so when we hear Councilman Chris MacArthur lecturing another Council Member on how a decision should be made! Don’t utilize logic in decision-making, use emotion!!! How asinine is that?

Will the taxpayers continue to bite the bullet from the pain of higher taxes? Apparently so….

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “NEGATIVE,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com

BREAKING NEWS: Mayor William Rusty Bailey issues his veto message. The mayor stated this in a circulated email just mere minutes ago:

Good Afternoon, Last week at the City Council meeting, under the authority invested in the Mayoral position by Section 413 of the City Charter (https://riversideca.gov/municode/city-charter.asp), I vetoed the City Council’s decision to renegotiate and extend the City Manager’s contract. As required by the Charter, attached is the veto message that we released to the City Council this afternoon. Each of you plays a valuable role serving our community, I would encourage you to engage in this process in the coming weeks.

Just when you think you’ve seen all, you forget you’re in Riverside: the epicenter of creative government finance for the betterment of special interests. At Tuesday’s February 6th council meeting, Mayor Bailey did something that has not been done for nearly 25 years: he dusted off his copy of the City Charter and used his veto power, finally showing he has a pair of balls.

Initially, when discussion opened to City Manager John Russo’s proposed contract, it appeared that the majority of Council was outraged. Condor, Adams, Soubirous and Gardner expressed their displeasure with the contract. When the final decision came about the vote was Condor and Perry “Nay”; MacArthur, Soubirous and Melendrez “Yea,” with Adams and Gardner flipping at the end with “Yeas” as well, to make the final tally vote 5-2 in favor of a brand spanking new 7-year contract for City Manager John Russo. TMC nominates both flippers for Academy Awards in the special category of “Pretending to Give a Damn”.

During the debate one could tell this outcome would not go over well with Mayor Bailey. The rumor is that behind the scenes the Mayor’s office and the City Manager’s office are feuding. Apparently, the Mayor’s Office cannot function as his predecessor, ex-Mayor Loveridge’s had things running (you know, with him having access to all City staff for his pet projects). It appears that the new City Manager put a stop to that, as was his right under the City Charter, and the paths were set for collision – Hatfield and McCoy-style. TMC takes no political position on this donnybrook, for the time being, we are just enjoying the the little boys stomping their feet. We present a montage of highlights:

ROYAL RUMBLE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Interestingly enough at the February 1st Budget Engagement Commission Meeting, Natasha Fatale, Marianna Marysheva – (Martinez, what happened?), responded to what she was informed was a divide between the two offices with…“I haven’t seen it!” According to the video she receives weekly calls from headhunters (recruiters) asking her to go elsewhere for more money. Lucky for us, she rebuffs those solicitations because she sees the value of the City of Riverside and our best-in-class leadership. [snicker, snicker]

While your Council became worried about losing Russo, and began kissing his behind, Mayor Bailey finally asked the question, “Have you made a statement that you will leave if you don’t get this contract?” Well then the real John Russo comes out swinging! His ego is let loose for all to see. TMC reminds readers that Russo chose to enter into the public sector because he didn’t want to take any risk, as in the private sector. Now it seems he’s having a mid-life crisis as he comes to the latter stages of his career, and realizes he’s nothing more then a city manager hack in Riverside, California…unlike entrepreneurs and real businessmen like Elon Musk, who doesn’t have to beg for money, who doesn’t have to beg for his salary, while he’s shooting rockets to Mars doing exactly what he wants to do.

“When truth is blurred by lies and misinformation, perception becomes reality and all is lost.” … This person is creating his own perception by creating an illusion of reality. It does not matter that this person isn’t god’s gift to Riverside, it only matters that to him that you perceive him as one.

What is the reality of Russo’s contract to the taxpayers? Over his lifetime after retirement will it cost us over $50 million in pension cost and benefits? This has yet to be addressed by Council.

Back to the council meeting/spitball fight: Bailey gave a scathing response to the Council’s approval of Russo’s contract, and used his super secret, mayoral, wonder-twin power to veto the action vote of the Council! City Attorney Gary Guess was asked if the veto was legal? His response was a somewhat trepid (and mostly unconvincing) one, leading to Rusty’s “talk to the hand” response.

Well, this kind of contradicted what City Attorney Gary Guess had earlier stated to Council and the Mayor, and certainly creates a controversy vis-a-vis the opinion he requested from outside counsel Michael Colantuono (a Proposition 218 attorney from Los Angeles that by the way, the Moreno’s beat on a case in Riverside, which protected ratepayers…not that we’re bragging…much).

In what must’ve been a land/speed record for Riverside contracts, the following morning City Clerk Colleen Nicol and Mayor Pro Tempore Chris MacArthur signed the contract. And within two days, we have the Mayor’s veto justification…without Council approval.

And so the saga continues….lies and drama, and yes, there is a divide Natasha. Not only is this a divide; its a fracture that will not repair itself. A fracture over the whole organization, and over EGO AND ARROGANCE AND ENTITLEMENT. And our Mayor has chosen his hill to defend or die trying. And so there will be only one winner. The Ice Queen selling a bill of goods to the budget committee that she is so sought after she can go anywhere, and old grandpa Russo being so smart that if he leaves, the sky will fall. And then you have the council tripping over each other, seeking favor from our City Manager in doling out the last remaining nectar from the almost-dry Measure Z honeypot.

We never thought we’d utter these words, but this may be better than the Brad Hudson/Belinda Graham era. But better in what way dear readers? Only time and a really good legal opinion will tell us who’s right on the Charter. But one thing for sure is that the Mayor’s office and the City Manager and their Council supporters will continue to fight this out in private and public now…and it will get uglier.

But is there still a game within this game? Our take is that one or two of the Council will flip their vote in favor of Bailey, out of loyalty and to insure future political fare in the City of Riverside. Ya knows? For the good of the old Riverside families.

TMC welcomes you responses and comments on this issue. Please reply in the comment section. We especially welcome those from the City of Oakland and the City of Alameda.

Will Don Bailey finally get Capo Russo to show respect for the River City Godfather and La Famiglia by kissing the ring? Who will be next on Corleone’s contract? For now finito!

“Riverside officials said they’re getting their money’s worth. Councilman Andy Melendrez pointed to citywide improvements under the Renaissance program and the city’s healthy fiscal condition, things Hudson also cited as achievements.” Five years later Russo comes to town and discovers a $10 million budget deficit and $600 million in unfunded pension liabilities, and has to deal with $2 billion in City debt. Fast forward three more years 2018 and it’s the same old song and dance by our more-or-less-the-same Council just replace “Renaissance” with “the Cheech and new Library”. Nowhere does it mention the rate hikes, fees hikes, new taxes, and new debt that supported this non-stop reckless spending.

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “NEGATIVE,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com